They have been here almost 2 weeks and I thought you would enjoy hearing about their first impressions, their favourite days and the different things they think about Russia.

I did not manage to get comments from all of them but most of them are represented! They are a team of 11 from the Compassion DTS in Kona, Hawaii. Ben, Sarah, Byron, Laura, Jon, Breanna, Jeremy, Mica, Alicia, Kay and Miranda.
Here are some of the comments and statements they had to make...
Breanna - "This is like heaven, snow falling and it's just awesome!" (This is what she thought when she first left the airport but the drive home changed some things) "...but there was hopelessness and lostness."
Byron - I like it, it's good!"
Jeremy - "Its like home but not..."
Mica - "it is overwhelming, the orphanages, the poverty - in America you don't see it like here."
Byron - "Dirty streets, they don't plow here and you don't see pick up trucks like home."
Kay - "It is the little cultural things that can be intense."
Sarah - "They walk in high heel boots in the snow, I can't even walk in tennis shoes!"
Breanna - "I realized how blessed we are."
Laura and Mica - "My favourite day was when we visited the Tuberclosis hospital."
Jeremy - "Probably going to the rehab, praying for people and hearing their stories."
Kay - "when we visited the homeless on the (hot water) pipes, it broke my heart and opened my eyes."
Sarah - "The Rehabilitation center and our day off when we went ice skating and to IKEA, that was a fun day!"
Byron - "Giving away my coat."
Laura - "I think as a team we all love it here!"
It has been a pleasure and a blessing to have them so far and we look forward to the coming weeks with them. Keep up the good work!!